Time-register for billiard-tables



(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 1.

E. B. POPE.

TIME REGISTER FOR BILLI ARD TABLES.

No. 298,402. Patented May 18,1884.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E. B. POPE.

TIME REGISTER FOR BILLIARD TABLES. No. 298,402. Patented May 18,1884.

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PATENT EDI/VIN B. POPE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,61-02, dated May 13, 1884.

Application filed December 26, 1883. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN B. POPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Time-Registers for Billiard-Tables, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

This invention relates to an improvement intime-registers for billiard-tables; and it consists in the combination, with a time-register, of a rod or other obstruction adapted to be advanced upon or removed from the face of the table, and means for connecting the obstruction and its register, so the latter will be started or stopped as the former is moved, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Inorder to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a perspective view of my invention. Fig: 2 is a view of the clock, showing the manner of engagement with the stop-rod.

A represents a portion of a billiard-table, and A the rail of the same, provided with the usual cushion, B, as shown. This cushion is always underbeveled; and I design to place in the space thus formed, where it will be out of the way, a rod or similar device, and means for projecting it beyond the edge of the cushion or withdrawing it beneath the same at pleasure. This may be done in many ways, but is represented in the drawings as follows:

0 represents a rod arranged slightly above the cloth top of the table, and supported by smaller rods, 0 a, secured to the table, and eX- tending through the cushion and rail to the outer side, where they are provided with a knob or handle, 0, as shown. The small rod v c is formed with a notch 0 and in the frame of the table beneath the rod is placed a vertical connection or latch, I), provided with a spring, d, adapted to throw it upward, as shown. The lower end of this latch is formed with a hook, d, and upon the side of the table is secured a common clock, E, with the mechanism of which this hook engages, as seen in Fig. 2. It will be evident that as this 11001;

engages with the mechanism it is held stationary, and when pushed down and disengaged therefrom the clock-spring at once moves the wheels forward to record thetime. At a suitable point within the casing or frame of the table the latch is formed with a shoulder or projection, d", and opposite this is a key-opening, a, through the main frame.

The operation of the device is readily seen. To playa game upon the table, it is necessary that the top should be clear and the balls free to strike the cushion. The rod Obeing pushed in over the table by means of its attached supporting rods or handles, the balls will strike it before reaching the cushion, and play is thereby prevented in this position. At the same time these rods are pushed in, the latch D springs upward into the notch 0, and its hooked end, being thereby engaged with the wheels of the clock mechanism, holds the latter stationary and locks the obstruction G from displacement. When the table is desired for use, the attendant, by means of a key, throws down the latch, thereby releasing the clock and allowing it to start forward again to record the time, and by means of the knobs or handles the obstructions O are drawn back out of the way, leaving the top of the table free for the use of players.

It is evident that many changes in detail may be made from the construction shown without departing from the spirit of my in vention. Thus the ends of the rod 0 may be supported in grooves beneath the side cushions, and the knob O used only for moving it in or out; or the rod may be hinged at one end and adapted to swing out over the table.

The register not only shows the time of use of the table by particular parties, but the time registered in the morning and that given at night shows the aggregate amount of earnings during the day, and prevents the misuse of money by the attendant.

The device is equally applicable'to pool-tables and all similar games, and is placed upon one or more sides, as desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a billiard-table,

of means adapted to be moved at will, for obstructingthe course of the balls, means for registering the lapse of time, and intermediate connection between the two, whereby the movement of the former will start and stop the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a time-register for billiards or similar games, a removable obstacle adapted to obstruct the course of the balls, in combination with a time-register, a connection actuated by the obstacle to stop the register, a key adapted to actuate the connection to start the register, and means forlocking the obstruction in place, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a billiard-table,

of an obstacle adapted to be projected over the table or withdrawn beneath the cushion, a time-register, and an intermediate connection between the two, adapted to start or stop the register as the obstacleis moved, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a time-register for billiard-tables, an obstacle located beneath the overhanging cushion, and provided with means for projecting it over the table at will, in combination with a time-register, and an intermediate connection between the register and obstacle adapted to lock the latter in its forward position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the table A, constructed as usual, and the rod 0, provided with the auxiliary rod 0, having notch c, of the spring-latch D, formed with the hook d and shoulder (1 and the register E, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ED\VIN B. POPE.

XVitnesses:

WV. G. MOAR'rI-IUR, CHAS. KRESSMANN. 

